The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-29

NO; who is bes'
When the name of the PHILADELPHIA poli-
uclan was mentioned l realized how low
men can fall, even in this country, where it
Is supposed any one of push and determine
tlon can secure compentency
These are only few of the many cases
within my own knowledge where men of
talent aud education have sunk into the
mlre OF trampdom. In nearly every case
thelr descent was due to drunkenness, but
Uhe great majority of tramps have not that
excuse for beginning the life.
Two young mechanics decided to enjoy n
few weeks of camp life They bought a
square of canvas, a few dishes and cooking.
utensils, and proceeded to make themselves
comfortable on the banks of lake near
trenton, N. j. Here they lived during
July and August, feeling more and more
dlslncllned to resume work as the weeks
slipped away. Toward the end of summer
money grew scarce with them, and it was
considered good fun to rob the neighboring
hen roosts. Finally their presence became
nuisance, and the farmers drove them
away. The mischief was done, and two
more recruits were added to the tramp
army.
There was an errand boy employed in a
newspaper office who was bright and intel
hgent He fell in with evil companions and
took to pilfering postage stamps and what
odds and ends he could pick up in order to
gain extra pocket money. Being detected
he was of course discharged and finally
Joined one of the numerous street gangs
which infest this city. Not long ago this
boy, now grown to manhood, stopped me ID,
the street as a tramp He told me he had
been in nearly every State east of the Mis-
souri,, and confessed that he had never done
an honest days work in all that time.
Men seek employment and fail; their cour-
age and confidence is lost. Little by little
they go down until compelled TO sleep on
park benches or in station houses Here
they meet with congenial trampS and learn
the ways of trampdom. Then they adopt
the life and seem forever unable to extricate
themselves. Had helping hand been ex-
tended at the proper time they would have
escaped and remained honorable members
of society. But how seldom it happens that
the helping hand is extended. Too often in
difference permits man who is seeking the
means of earning livelihood to drop into
the ranks of the tramp army.
The tramp evil is one that has received
much attention from those whose instincts
lead them to try and improve mankind, but
no concerted effort has been made toreclaim
tramps or remove the evil. In some States,
notably Connecticut, it is misdeamor to be
ing one of these outcasts is subject to fine
The consequence is that tramps avoid these
States, and flock to others where the laws
are more lenient.
What is needed is society for the refor-
nation of tramps, coupled with laws for
Gheir punishment if they persist in clinging
to the life. Police lodging houses should be
abolished, and in their stead refugees for the
homeless ought to be established and an
earnest effort made to obtain employment
for them By this means many would be
saved, and in time the genus tramp would
become extinct. OF course the work would
be a tedious one. but Americans are pro
verbally charitable, and it only needs to
supply channel through which contribu-
tiOns could flow. A kind word or act will
do wonders, and in proper hands such a
movement would not only save many good
man and woman, but really add to the ma
terial prosperity of the country; for to trans
form a tramp from drone into a worker,
self-sustaining and self-respecting. is to in
crease the natural wealth. That would be
an anti-poverty society that might accom-